U.S. Sanctions 26 Iranian Oil Smuggling Networks Funding Terror Groups

Oil tanker — Image for representation purposes only

The United States Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on 26 companies, individuals and vessels linked to the Syrian-based Al-Qatirji company, a conglomerate accused of generating revenue for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and the Houthis.

These sanctions aim to disrupt the group’s operations linked to Iranian oil supplies to China and Syria.

Al-Qatirji company, previously sanctioned in 2018 for facilitating oil trade between the Syrian regime and ISIS, has become a financial channel for the IRGC-QF.

In 2024, the company allowed the IRGC-QF to use hundreds of millions of dollars, much of which has been illegally acquired through financial hotspots like Beirut and Istanbul.

A part of these funds are transferred to the Houthis, with millions reported to be sent monthly.

A spokesperson from the Department of Treasury said that Iran heavily relies on business partners like Al-Qatirji to fund its disruptive regional actions and terrorist proxies.

He reaffirmed that the U.S. will continue to target such networks to limit the Iranian regime’s ability to profit from illegal activities.

The sanctions are imposed under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets entities associated with terrorism.

Al-Qatirji was also flagged for its involvement in smuggling Iranian oils using a fleet of vessels registered under Barbados, Guyana, and Panama.

Vessels including BARON, LELIA, AND ROMINA, have been identified as blocked property.

These ships are said to have helped in the oil shipments worth tens of millions of dollars, some of which were used to settle debts with the IRGC-QF.

BlueSpectrum Shipping S.A., based in Panama, and Salina Ship Management Pvt Ltd, based in India, and several other shipping companies have been involved in managing these vessels with their properties also blocked under the sanctions.

Additionally, companies like Moshtaq Tejarat Sanat Co JSC, based in Iran and Software Navigation Holding Ltd, based in Lebanon, are accused of helping the conglomerate’s operations.

The leader of the Al-Qatirji company, Hussam Al-Qatirji, has also been sanctioned. Hussam, who took over the company after the death of Muhammad Al-Qatirji in 2024, manages the company’s oil trade and works closely with IRGC-QF officials.

Hussam, who was previously sanctioned for arranging oil trade with ISIS in 2020, is accused of directly coordinating financial transactions that benefitted the IRGC-QF and Houthis.

Other key figures, including ‘Abbas Katerji and Muhammad Agha Ahmed Rashdi Qatirji, have also been designated to support the company’s illegal operations.

Reference: U.S. Treasury

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